Unloading apron and drain trough for washers



April 4, 1933. A. D. STALEY UNLOADING APRON AND DRAIN THOUGH FOR WASHERS Filed Feb. 21, 1950 0 COO W T N N 1R WW m g 5% Q u Z Patented Apr. 4, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i ALoNzo n. sTALEY, or CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR o THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, 0310, A CORPORATION or CHIC UNLOADI G APRON AND DRAIN Teodor: r03 wAsnEas Application filed February 21,1930. 'Ser'ial 170.4303.

My invention relates to washing machines.

It relates, particularly, to an unloading apron and drain trough for a washing machine of the type in which is used a cleaning fluid 5 such as gasoline or like cleaning fluids as detergents. However, the invention may be applied to any washing machine of the type shown regardless of the fluid used in the washing operation.

Heretofore, few washing machines of the type shown have been equipped with hinged unloading aprons and, in those machines equipped with an apron, the construction has generally been such that it'was necessary to rotate the apron over the lower edge of the tub or casing door opening/co place it in operative relation with the door opening of the drum or cylinder. With this construction, the apron has formed an obstruction preventing complete closing of the outer tub or casing door in the event of an explosion or fire and is, therefore, undesirable. Further, previous unloading aprons have not provided means for returning to the washing operation any detergent liquid which drains from the work while it is being withdrawn from the machine.

One object of my invention is to provide an unloading apron which is entirely contained within the outer casing and is so arranged and constructed that there will be no obstruction to prevent completeclosing of the outside tub casing door.

Another object of my invention is to prounloading apron whereby the fluid draining from the articles being removed from the washer will be returned to the machine.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the following detailed description and one embodiment thereof may be seen in the accompanying drawing wherein like references designate corresponding parts, and wherein: Fig. lis an end elevation with parts broken away showing a washing machine equipped with my invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a detail elevation showing a portion of the front of the washing machine, parts being broken away to more clearly show 7 the construction.

vide a draintrough in conjunction with the r F ig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3- 3 of Fig. 2, showing the'unloading'apron and drain trough with the unloading apron in operative relation with the drum.

Fig. 4 is a ,view similar to Fig. 3 but showing theouter tub or casing door in closed position.

Referring to the drawing, I-have shown a washing machine embodying a tub or outer casing 1 adapted to contain a fluid and an inner drum or casing 2 that'is perforated in the usual manner and is mounted in bearings supported by the end frame 3 of the casing 1 and adaptedto rotate therein; 7

. The inner and outer casings 1 and 2 are each provided with a door, the outer tub" or casing eing provided with a hinged door '5 and the lower edge 7 of the outer casing door opening is in ,a'radial line with the lower edge 8 of the cylinder door opening. 7

A portion of the outer tub or casing which forms the lower edge 7 of the outer casing door opening is flared outwardly as at 9 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 4) and an angle iron 10 is secured to such outwardly flaring portion'to providean abutment against which the lower edge of the outsidecasing door 5 may rest when closed.

On the inner side of theouter casing and adjacent the flared, portion 9 thereof, a perforated member ll is secured by means of rivets 12 or other suitableiastening.means and embodies a vertically extending portion 14 and a horizontally extending portion 15, which, with the wall.9,: forma triangular shaped chamber 9a adapted to receive detergent, which drains to it.through thewall l5, and deliver it into the machine.- 1

Extending inwardly from the horizontal portion 15 of the member 11' and securedto such member is an angle iron 1-6 which extends longitudinally of thecasing along the entire length thereof, and pivotally mounted on the edge of such angle iron, as at 17, is a metal plate or apron 18.

In the operation of this device, the doors 5 and 6 of the inner and outer casings are registered and moved to open position. Then, the plate or apron 18 is moved about its pivot until its free edge rests in a groove 19 1n the stave 20 of the inner casing, as in Fig. 3, whereupon the articles within the inner casing may be drawn over the plate or apron 18, angle iron 16 and horizontal portion 15 of the member 11 and removed from the machine, the fluid draining from the articles being returned to the interior of the machine by reason of the chamber hereinbefore described, and the angular position of the members 16 and 18 of the machine. Then, other articles may be placed in the drum, the plate or apron 18 being rotated to the position shown in Fig. 1, the doors 5 and 6 closed, and the machine operated in the usual manner. In this position the apron lies in a recess 10a of the tub frame below the abutment surface 10.

A latching means 21 is provided for securely holding the outer tub or casing door against the angle iron 10 which forms a rest therefor. Such latching means is of the lever type and is so constructed that it will automatically latch the door in position when such door is closed.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, the unloading apron is shown in operative position with respect to the perforated drum or cylinder 2 with the door 6 thereof partially closed and resting on the upper surface of the apron. Also, as shown in this figure, the outer tub or case door 5 is in closed and latched position, which is not interfered with by the apron or inner shell or casing door. This possibility of closing the outer tub or case door completely when the unloading apron is in operative position is particularly advantageous in the event of an explosion or fire within the machine, or other emergency conditions.

It will be seen that I have provided a device embodying numerous novel and advantageous features. For instance, I have provided an unloading apron for washing machines of such nature that the unloading apron is disposed at all times within the outer shell or casing and in such position that it will never interfere with the complete closing of the outer case door irrespective of whether or not it is in operative bridging relation with the inner drum. This is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Further, the unloading apron is of such nature as to form a ground connection between the inner and outer casings, thereby reducing fire hazard.

Another advantageous feature resides in the fact that a drain trough is provided in conjunction with the unloading apron and is of such nature that fluid draining from the articles being drawn over the unloading apron will be returned to the inside of the washing machine. Thus I have provided a means for preventing the accumulation of washing fluid outside of the machine.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination with a washing machine including a tub having an opening therein and a door closure therefor and a rotatable drum within said tub having a door opening movable into registry with said tub opening and a door closure therefor, a hinged unloading apron mounted within the interior of said tub adjacent the lower edge of the door opening and adapted to be moved from an inoperative position to bridge the gap between said tub and said drum, and means permitting fluid flowing from treated goods being removed from said drum to drain back I into said tub including a perforated member having a top portion forming substantially a continuation of said unloading apron when said apron is in bridging position.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination with a washing machine including a tub having an opening therein and a door closure therefor and a rotatable drum within said tub having a door opening movable into registry with said tub opening and a door closure therefor, a hinged unloading apron mounted within the interior of said tub adjacent the lower edge of the door opening and adapted to be moved from an inoperative position to bridge the gap between said tub and said drum, and a drain trough within said tub consisting of a perforated member havin a top portion forming substantially a continuation of said unloading apron and a side portion cooperating with the inner wall of said tub to form the trough.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination with a washing machine including a tub having an opening therein and a door closure therefor and a rotatable drum within said tub having a door opening movable into registry with said tub opening and a door closure therefor, a hinged unloading apron mounted within the interior of said tub adjacent the lower edge of the door opening and adapted to be moved from an inoperative position to bridge the gap between said tub and said drum, and means permitting fluid flowing from treated goods being removed from said drum to drain back into said tub including a perforated member having a top portion forming substantially a continuation of said unloading apron when said apron is in bridging position, said apron and trough being in a position as not to interfere at any time with the closure of said tub door, and an automatic operating latching means for said stationary drum door.

4:. Apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination with a washing ma-' chine including a tub having an opening therein and a door closure therefor, and a rotatable drum within said tub having a door opening movable into registry with said tub opening and a door closure therefor, an unloading apron mounted on a fixed pivot within the interior of said tub adjacent the lower edge of the door opening and having two positions, said apron being movable from an inoperative position wherein it extends horizontally away from the door opening of said drum to an operative position wherein it extends horizontally toward the door openin in said drum to bridge the gap between said tub and said drum and to present a substantially smooth surface across which goods may be drawn in removal from said drum, and said apron being positioned relative to the lower edge of said tub door opening whereby to permit complete closure of the tub door when said apron is in bridging position.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

ALONZO D. STALEY. 

